Chest of Drawers

Description

Cupboard-on-chest with grain painted drawer fronts. Nailed to the top of the cupboard is a cove crown molding. Below are two cupboard doors, mortised together and attached to the carcass with two iron hinges. Toward the center the recess with a dupont edge and are then beveled creating a rectangle at the center the same depth as the door. The doors have holes where handles once were, but are held close by a wooden piece that can lock and unlock the doors when turned. The cupboard is empty inside, but there are six peg holes in a line along the back. Below the cupboard are six drawers with a faux-grain painting on the front. Each drawer is the width of the chest and has two drawer-pulls each. The bottom third drawer has a key hole at center, but the locking mechanism is no longer present. The proper left side has two row of three holes for pegs. The proper right side has one open and two closed peg holes at various heights.

Notes

An early piece that has undergone considerable modification. The finish was removed from the case and cupboard doors, though there are clear remnants of red paint (this was probably done by the museum; when accessioned, the case was gray). The grain painting was probably applied by the Shakers. Forms an interesting example of how Shaker taste and styles evolved. Also of note is that pegboards were attached to the sides and back, which would have been accessible in a closet space.